A different question :)

[DavidsPrincess 1]

Hehe, I know this is a weird question to be asking on this forum but it is the only place I have at the moment to get this kind of info. Once my fiance (the Canadian) and I (the USC) are married, is there a way I can go about getting dual-citizenship? I know it's silly to think about after going through all this with US immigration, but I'd like to have the option of living in Canada if we ever wanted to. After the many trips there to visit, I've grown a little attached to the country.

[thermophile 0]

try searching this forum. several of us have done both and we've listed most of the major considerations on those discussions.

[thermophile 0]

check this one

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1405575

[DavidsPrincess 1]

ok cool, thanks!

[trailmix 77]

It is a good thread, has that great pic of the dogsled!

One thing I don't think is mentioned there - once you get your permanent residency in Canada - as long as you are living with your Canadian citizen spouse you will be considered to have residency, no matter where you live in the world.

ie: you don't have to become a citizen of Canada to ensure you can come and go as you please.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Basically, the process to obtain Canadian residency is similar to the US - the Canadian spouse applies to sponsor the foreign spouse, pays a fee, and must provide medicals, security information, proof of relationship, proof of Canadian citizenship, etc. While a financial sponsorship form must be filled out, there is no minimum income level of support required for spouses. The application can be filed either from in country with the US spouse legally being in Canada on a temporary resident permit (visitor's visa) or from outside the US. In both caes, Permanent Resident status is not granted until the US spouse physically crosses and is processed at the border, and takes up physical residency in Canada. The visas do have a deadline date by which this must be done - usually the validity of the medical, so if your medical will be a year old in 3 months, then the visa will be good for 3 months, etc. The thing about Canadian residency, however, is that you do need to intend to reside in Canada - and must meet certain residency requirements (so many months within the preceding years, etc.). Citizenship also requires residence within Canada for so many months of the preceding 3 years - and even one day trips outside of Canada are counted as time outside of the country. Resuming residency in Canada for your Canadian spouse, however, negates her US residency so if you plan to do this, you should at least wait until your Canadian spouse obtains her US citizenship before you pursue Canadian residency/citizenship. You can check out the Canadian immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca

Edited December 29, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Cassie 8]

Hehe, I know this is a weird question to be asking on this forum but it is the only place I have at the moment to get this kind of info. Once my fiance (the Canadian) and I (the USC) are married, is there a way I can go about getting dual-citizenship? I know it's silly to think about after going through all this with US immigration, but I'd like to have the option of living in Canada if we ever wanted to. After the many trips there to visit, I've grown a little attached to the country.

I don't think it is silly at all -- we plan on doing the exact same thing, as well as a number of us on this forum.

Thanks for the synopsis Kathryn!

[SpiritAlight 1]

Dear Aschaal03,

First of all there is no weird question.

And second, for you to become Canadian, here is one thing to learn:

how to be quirky, and be comfortable with making fun of oneself.

It's a an artform.

[DavidsPrincess 1]

Basically, the process to obtain Canadian residency is similar to the US - the Canadian spouse applies to sponsor the foreign spouse, pays a fee, and must provide medicals, security information, proof of relationship, proof of Canadian citizenship, etc. While a financial sponsorship form must be filled out, there is no minimum income level of support required for spouses. The application can be filed either from in country with the US spouse legally being in Canada on a temporary resident permit (visitor's visa) or from outside the US. In both caes, Permanent Resident status is not granted until the US spouse physically crosses and is processed at the border, and takes up physical residency in Canada. The visas do have a deadline date by which this must be done - usually the validity of the medical, so if your medical will be a year old in 3 months, then the visa will be good for 3 months, etc. The thing about Canadian residency, however, is that you do need to intend to reside in Canada - and must meet certain residency requirements (so many months within the preceding years, etc.). Citizenship also requires residence within Canada for so many months of the preceding 3 years - and even one day trips outside of Canada are counted as time outside of the country. Resuming residency in Canada for your Canadian spouse, however, negates her US residency so if you plan to do this, you should at least wait until your Canadian spouse obtains her US citizenship before you pursue Canadian residency/citizenship. You can check out the Canadian immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca

Thanks for the explanation! To add a question on to that, when would he get his US citizenship? is it the 10 year mark or sooner? I haven't been sure on that.

SpiritAlight, I thought all I had to do was learn to say "eh" after every sentence! I didn't know there was more involved

[KarenCee 3]

It's three years from the date on the conditional green card. Five years if you're not married to a USC.

[Cassie 8]

SpiritAlight, I thought all I had to do was learn to say "eh" after every sentence! I didn't know there was more involved

Lesson #1 on How to Learn to Be Canadian:

Not all Canadians say "eh".

Lesson #2

The starting day for the annual "Tim Horton's Roll Up the Rim to Win" contest will soon become a Canadian national holiday. Prepare for it by strengthening your thumb muscles.

Lesson #3

Don Cherry is tolerated in Canada basically because he reminds us of our cranky yet lovable grandfathers.

Lesson #4

If you think our money is like Monopoly money, wait until you see Canadian Tire money!*

Lesson #5

Thanksgiving is in October, its rightful place on the calendar! Oh, and there is no such thing as Black Friday in Canada, unless you count when the final day of the NHL regular season rolls by and Toronto misses the playoffs yet again. *sigh*

Lesson #6

Canadian Smarties are so much better than American Smarties!

*not legal tender in any other place other than a Canadian Tire store.

[KarenCee 3]

Love it!!!!! LOLOL! Especially the one about Don Cherry.

[thermophile 0]

SpiritAlight, I thought all I had to do was learn to say "eh" after every sentence! I didn't know there was more involved

Lesson #1 on How to Learn to Be Canadian:

Not all Canadians say "eh".

Lesson #2

The starting day for the annual "Tim Horton's Roll Up the Rim to Win" contest will soon become a Canadian national holiday. Prepare for it by strengthening your thumb muscles.

Lesson #3

Don Cherry is tolerated in Canada basically because he reminds us of our cranky yet lovable grandfathers.

Lesson #4

If you think our money is like Monopoly money, wait until you see Canadian Tire money!*

Lesson #5

Thanksgiving is in October, its rightful place on the calendar! Oh, and there is no such thing as Black Friday in Canada, unless you count when the final day of the NHL regular season rolls by and Toronto misses the playoffs yet again. *sigh*

Lesson #6

Canadian Smarties are so much better than American Smarties!

*not legal tender in any other place other than a Canadian Tire store.

this is the first reasonable explanation for Don Cherry that I've ever seen-even after living in Canada off and on for years

[emt103c 10]

Lesson #4

If you think our money is like Monopoly money, wait until you see Canadian Tire money!*

I have thought BOTH of these things!

[David_n_Amber 3]

Lesson #5

Thanksgiving is in October, its rightful place on the calendar! Oh, and there is no such thing as Black Friday in Canada, unless you count when the final day of the NHL regular season rolls by and Toronto misses the playoffs yet again. *sigh*

haha.. Toronto never makes the playoffs and probably wont for a very long time